Women's College Wrestling Reaches Historic Milestone with First NCAA Championships

The Iowa City area, known as "Wrestletown USA", hosts the groundbreaking event this weekend.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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The first-ever NCAA Women's Wrestling Championships will take place this Friday and Saturday at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa, just a few miles from the University of Iowa campus. The event marks a major milestone for the sport, which moved from "emerging" to championship status in 2025 with over 111 NCAA programs across all divisions competing. Top-ranked McKendree University, the University of Iowa, and Division III powerhouse North Central College will all be represented at the historic tournament.

Why it matters

Women's wrestling has seen tremendous growth at the college level in recent years, with the NCAA designating it an "emerging sport" in 2020. Hosting the first NCAA Championships in the heart of American wrestling country underscores the sport's rising popularity and legitimacy, paving the way for greater visibility, participation, and opportunities for female athletes.

The details

The championships will not be divided by NCAA division, so smaller schools like McKendree and North Central will compete against powerhouses like the University of Iowa. McKendree is ranked #1 in the nation and is sending 10 wrestlers, while Iowa and North Central also qualified the maximum 10 athletes. Several of the competitors have Olympic or world team experience, highlighting the elite talent level in women's college wrestling.

  • The NCAA Women's Wrestling Championships will be held on Friday, March 7 and Saturday, March 8, 2026.
  • Women's wrestling was designated an "emerging sport" by the NCAA in 2020.
  • The sport moved from "emerging" to championship status in January 2025.

The players

Alexio Garcia

Head coach of the McKendree University women's wrestling team.

Clarissa Chun

Head coach of the University of Iowa women's wrestling team.

Heather Crull

Top-seeded wrestler in the 103-pound weight class for McKendree University.

Kennedy Blades

University of Iowa wrestler who won a silver medal at the 2024 Olympics.

North Central College

Division III school that won the National Duals tournament, defeating both McKendree and Iowa.

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What they’re saying

“What is it they say? 'Wrestletown USA?' I think it's a great place for wrestling to be hosted. You go to some places, maybe a hundred people know wrestling. There, everyone lives it.”

— Alexio Garcia, Head coach, McKendree University (wbal.com)

“It really is 'Wrestletown USA'. We've had World Cup events here. We're going to have other big events here. So this is a big deal for our sport.”

— Clarissa Chun, Head coach, University of Iowa (wbal.com)

“The fact that we're in this position now is nothing short of pretty amazing. I think we're all lucky and blessed to be witnessing it, to be honest.”

— Alexio Garcia, Head coach, McKendree University (wbal.com)

What’s next

The NCAA Women's Wrestling Championships will continue to grow in the coming years, with more schools expected to add varsity programs and the event potentially expanding to include divisional competition.

The takeaway

The staging of the first NCAA Women's Wrestling Championships in the heart of American wrestling country underscores the remarkable growth and rising legitimacy of the sport at the college level. This milestone event will inspire more young women to pursue wrestling and pave the way for greater visibility, participation, and opportunities in the years ahead.